Tierable nesting receptacle



Feb. 26,1957 w. H. LOL'CKWOOD 'I'IERABLE NESTING RECEPTACLE Filed Sept. 16, 1952 4 Sheats-Shet 1 INVENTOR. WARREN H. LOCKWOOD ATTORNEY Feb. 26, 1957 Filed Sept. 16, 1952 W. H. LOCKWOOD TIERABLE NESTING RECEIPTACLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WARREN H. LOCKWOOD ATTORNEY Feb. 26, 1957 w. H. LOCKWOOD 2,782,936

7 TIERABLE NESTING RECEPTACLE Filed Sept. 16, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. WARREN H. LOCKWOOD ATTORNEY 1957 w. H. LOCKWOOD TIERABLE NESTING RECEPTACLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 16, 1952 D K J m 3 L E N .W M Y B ATTORNEY TIERABLE NESTING RECEPTACLE Warren H. Lockwood, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application September 16, 1952, Serial No. 309,885

Claims. (Cl. 211-126) The present invention relates to improvements in receptacles and more particularly to receptacles adapted to be tiered when in use and to be nested when empty.

A variety of structures has been suggested for crates, boxes, trays and similar receptacles, which may be stacked one upon another when in use and nested when empty for conservation of space. One commonly used form of such receptacles employs a hinged member or plurality thereof at the top rim of a tapered sided receptacle which may be swung into place across the top of the receptacle to support thereon another like recepacle and be swung outwardly from the supporting position to allow nesting of one receptacle within another. Other structures utilize separate or removable slats laid across the top of one receptacle to provide tiering support for another or sliding or pivoted slats at the bottom of the tapered side receptacle which are movable to a projecting position to provide support by engaging the top rim of an underlying receptacle but retractable to a non-projecting position to allow nesting. Such receptacles have labored under the disadvantages attendant upon separate tiering support means and movable members which are subject to breakage or deformation, as well as requiring, in many instances, more storage space for a plurality of tiers thereof than is desirable, and also manipulation of the support means to prepare for tiering or nesting operations.

The present invention obviates the need for such movable members and provides an extremely simple structure which is rugged, low in manufacturing cost yet tierable and nestable to furnish the space-saving characteristics desired in circulating or returnable receptacles used in the storage, transportation and distribution of goods.

An object then of the present invention is the provision of a tierable and nestable receptacle having no moving parts.

Another object is the provision of a receptacle structure reducing lost space among a plurality of tiers of such receptacles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and drawings Wherein Fig. 1 shows a tray-like form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a plurality of the receptacles of Fig. 1 shown in both tiered and nested relation;

Fig. 3 shows a second form of tray generally similar to that of Fig. 1 but having certain reinforcement means provided therein;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a plurality of receptacles such as that of Fig. 3 showing both tiered and nested relation;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the receptacles of Fig. 4;

2,782,936 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 Fig. 6 shows a box-like form of the invention having three sides enclosed;

Fig. 7 is a side view of a plurality of the receptacles of Fig. 6 in both tiered and nested relation;

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a box-like form of the invention enclosed on all four sides;

Fig. 10 is a side view of a plurality of the receptacles such as that in Fig. 9 shown in both tiered and nested relation; and

Fig. 11 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 10.

The open tray form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a tray member or bottom structure 19; a transverse pair of parallel cross rails or tiering support members 20, 21 having a length equal to the tray width mounted in upwardly or vertically spaced relation to the tray at each end by curved members or struts 23 extending in general disposition downwardly and inwardly to the bottom structure and aflixed along the bottom reach portions 24 thereof to the long side panels 25 of the tray member; and a pair of bars 26, parallel to but more closely spaced than the rail members 20, 21 afiixed to the under surface of the tray bottom. For closer nesting the side panels 25and end panels 29 are slanted, land the rail support members 23 are attached along the upper edge of the outer faces of panels .25 by riveting, welding or other means dependent upon materials used. The rail members 20, 21 and their support reaches 23 may be formed from a single rod which may be welded to the tray member when the latter is formed of sheet metal. Preferably the members 23 attached to each side of the tray are coplanar to minimize lost space between adjacent tiers or nests of the receptacles. Further, it is to be noted that the members 23 slant inwardly from the rails 20-21 to their locus of attachment to the tray mem her and that the upper end portions 27 of the curved supporting members are curved convexly upwardly above the plane of the rails.

When the trays are tiered, as may be seen from Fig. 2, an upper tray B rests upon the transverse rails of a lower tray C, being held in position from lateral displacement by the upwardly convex portions 27 of the side members serving :as side stops and from longitudinal displacement by the members 26 of upper tray B which lie betwee'n the cross rails and abut against the members 23 of lower tray C and serving as end stops or locating means.

To put the trays in nested relation, as illustrated by members A and C in Fig. 2, with the bottom of the members 23 of C resting upon the top of the corresponding members of the lower tray, the following procedure is used: An upper tray is tilted endwise and the lowermost projecting end portion of its bottom structure is then slid under one of the cross rails 20-21 (through the opening or clearway there) until the other end is positioned to clear the other cross rail. The tray may then be dropped down into nesting position, being directed to a centered position by the convergent supporting members 23 at each side. Successive trays may thus be nested until the clearance between the cross rail of the lowermost tray of the tier and the last positioned tray is such that an additional tray cannot be manipulated into position under either rail 20 or 21 by the foregoing procedure. For removal of the receptacles from nested position, the reverse of this procedure is followed by displacing" the uppermost tra'y endwiseuntil one end may be brought up vertically inside the overlying cross rail of the lowermost tray and then the tray may be slid endwise out of position to disengage the other end from beneath the other cross bar of the lowermost tray.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is generally similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 being an open or tray type receptacle. The tray member 31 is shown with straight edges, to the lateral pair 32 of which are secured the bottom ends of the slanting struts or support members- 33,;to;the upper ends of ,Whichare welded orsecured the transverse rails or support members 34, 3 5 ,1a nd the longitudinal ties or struts ,34). ln this case, a single red, bent into rectangular form and .welded, to the outer side of the members 32, may provide both struts 30. and transversemembers 34, 35., Hereagain upwardlyprojccting ends 37, similar to the portion 27 of Fig. 1-,;are provided,-as-, side;;stops or ,loca ting. means, for lateral retention of the trays in tiered relation, .One or more longitudinal bars 38 shorter in length than ,the :spacing of rails, 34, 35 maybe provided as locating means on the; bottom tray surfaces whereby vlongitudinal displacemeht-of-the-tiered trays; may be prevented, the endsof barst-=38 -serving as end stops. Manipulation in tiering and nesting is similar to that already described for the firstform;.- I r ;In-Figs.; 6 to-8-inclusive-1 showareceptacle structure whereinthe sides and oneend are enclosed by, solid panels from the bottom to the height of the tiering support-cross mile -As in"the'structureo f Fig.3 the ,top comprises a rectangularawirelframe having transverse end railreaches or support members-,,40-41 and longitudinal reaches 42 whichare-of less length than the length of the bottom planiform structure 43. The top rail reaches are connccted to thebottom by sloping side panels 44 and vertical end panel 45. These side panels arepreferably formed ofishcet metals-beaded over the top rails and integral-with 'or secured in any convenient manner to the bottom-structure 43. -vThe end structure opposite to vertical end panel 45 is open as shown to provide a clearway from the projecting bottom portion 43, at that end, upwardly-,toward-support member 40. Bottom strips 46 extend longitudinally andthe ends thereof terminate short of the bottom structure ends to provide end stops or longitudinallocating means in tiering. Corresponding ends of-strips 46 may be joined by transverse elements 46a into a rectangular -U-shaped bottom frame. End wall 45 may be omitted. Means may be provided on the cross rail andthe bottom structure to prevent lateral movement of tiered receptacles. 1 v 1 lntiering the structures shown in Fig. 6 one receptacle is-placedabove the otheronc with the bottom structure restingvupon cross rail40 and head 41 of the under receptacle, andwviththe end of bottom strips 46 inabutting relation to. the inside; of rail 40 and with the opposite ends of strips 46in abutting relation to the bead structure of .the vertical end panel 45. Thus the top bead structures of the tiered receptacles are in substantially vertical planes. .Whennesting, the bottom structure of thevopen end' of one.receptacle-is slid beneath the cross rail 40 of the underlying receptacleand nesting can take place an shown in theupper portion of Figs? and 8.

f in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive I show still anotherembodi- .inent ofthe-invention wherein the metal receptacles are provided with slopingoratapering side walls and end walls to gafiord nesting in the well known manner. However to'obtaintiering I strike out from the end walls pairs of load-bearing=lugs 48 and 49 proiecting outwardly from the bottom' structure. These lugs or rests" are formed to have.transverselyiextending grooves. 5% located substantially inuvertical alignment with the transverse cross rails or support members 5i and 52 of the end wall structure,

' the'upper receptacle are'inserted in the struck out openings or clearways 48a in the end wall of the underlying receptacle in a swinging motion within the end and the lugs 49 at the opposite end swing down at the inside of the opposite openings. It will be noted that the overall length of the lugs 4849 is shortened relative to the height of the struck out openings i. e. the ends of the lugs after being struck out from the end panels are sheared off. It is understood the lugs and openings can be separately formed and the lugs attached in the manner related to the openings as shown. Above each projecting struck out portion 48-4-9 the beads 51, 52 may be depressed or indented slightly as at 53 to receive the portions 48-49 to preyentlateral displacement.

In each of the foregoing disclosed receptacle structures it will be. noted that Irelyupontransversely extending cross rails longitudinally spaced inwardly from at least one end of the bottom structure and with each receptacle structure being provided ,withparticular means for engaging such rails to afford the tiering of the receptacles w on bearing merchandise. Also, in all forms at least one end is apertured between the corresponding cross rail and the load supporting surface or bottom to receive an end portion or projection on the bottom of a similar receptacle to be nested therein, therebypermitting longitudinal displacement of the latter to provide clearance at the oppositeend that is required for manipulation into nesting relationship. Correlative with this structural characteristic is the further feature that at the said aperturcd end the supporting means for thetransversc rail is secured to the bottom member at a locus displaced inwardly from the.vertical plane passed through the rail to permit the mutual displacement of the bottom surface of one receptacle relative to the transverse rails of another as required in nesting.

I claim: '1

Areceptacle adapted for tiering and nesting with receptacles. of like construction comprising a planiform bottom structure providing a load supporting and carryingisurface, support members disposed above the bottom inwardly. of vertical .planes through the end edges of the bottom and spaced apart one near each end of the receptacle to. provide a pair of parallel tiering support members adapted to support the bottom structure of a second like receptacle tiered thereon, meansrigidly at tached near two opposed side edges of said bottom structure and rigidly attached to opposite ends of said support membersand-holding each of said support members always in the same fixed relation, said bottom structure including on -at--least one end a portion beneath the corresponding support member and projecting beyond the vertical plane through the corresponding support member-gtoprovidebearing surface for tiering bearing on a support-member of an underlying like receptacle, said means extending upwardly from a side edge of said bottom structure and being located outwardly of the vertical plane through said edge and so constructed and arranged that said means nests with similar means on an underlying like receptacle, there being a clearway extending upwardly from said projecting portion toward and directly beneath said corresponding support member, said clearway being provided for the insertion of the projecting portion of: alike receptacle nested therein, the

locus of attachment to the bottom structure of the means holding.saidcorresponding support member being inward of said vertical planethrough said corresponding. support member, and means on the bottom structure adapted fog-cooperative engagement with the support members of an underlying like; receptacle structure for maintaining a plurality of the receptacles in vertical tiered alignment :with the perimeter ofan upper receptacle vertically directly aligned above: the perimeter of a lowerreceptacle. 2..- A receptacle-as in claim 1 wherein said first named means comprises struts extending from an associated support member downwardly and inwardly lengthwise of said receptacle to said bottorii structure.

3. A receptacle as in claim 1 including a said proiecting bottom portion beneath the support member at each end and there being a corresponding clearway extending upwardly from each said projecting portion, whereby a receptacle is provided symmetrical at opposite ends.

4. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said first named means comprises sheet material.

5. A receptacle as in claim 1 having an end wall across at least one end of said receptacle and extending from said support member there and downwardly to said bottom structure, said bottom structure projecting portion at said one end comprising tongue means of less width 15 2,684,766

6 than said bottom structure at said one end, and there being said clearway above said tongue means not substantially wider than said tongue means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 244,809 Kern July 26, 1881 1,708,474 Hoffman Apr. 9, 1929 2,127,999 Johnson Aug. 23, 1938 2,497,574 Bahnson Feb. 14, 1950 2,609,120 Williams Sept. 2, 1952 2,620,083 Moorhead Dec. 2, 1952 2,641,383 Coursey June 9, 1953 Blom July 27. 1954 

